Notes From Paris Fashion Week

Welcome back to FN Daily, where we break down the biggest stories happening in footwear and retail.

Today, we have a dispatch from Paris Fashion Week and an analysis on the luxury sneaker market. Plus, Arklyz Group adds another shoe name to its growing roster of brands.

Here's what you need to know.

Pharrell’s Fall 2024 Louis Vuitton Men’s Collection Doubles Down on Cold Weather Classics

Louis Vuitton presented its fall winter 2024 men’s collection at Paris Fashion Week on Tuesday. Coincidentally coinciding with the first measurable snowfall in New York City in over 700 days, Pharrell Williams’ snow-filled fall/winter 2024 Louis Vuitton men’s collection aptly highlighted next season’s boot offering.

While boot sales have remained soft this winter, Williams reminded us all that a classic cold weather shoe is essential this time of year — with a runway show dominated by the silhouette.

The star shoes of the show came with the grand reveal of Louis Vuitton’s new collaboration with Timberland. First teased last week on social media by Williams, the collection features the classic American work boots reinterpreted through the creative lens of Louis Vuitton and the savoir-faire of its Italian factories.

Highlights include a classic industrial boot is proposed in wheat-colored or black waterproof scrivante nubuck, debossed with the maison’s monogram, also echoed on the back of the tongue. The boot likewise appears in pebble nubuck and super-grained buffalo nubuck versions.

The Athlete’s Foot Owner Arklyz Group Acquires Lloyd Shoes

Arklyz Group has added another shoe name to its growing roster of global brands.

The owner of The Athlete’s Foot, Asphaltgold, Intersocks and global licenses and distribution deals has acquired German shoe store manufacturer Lloyd Shoes from Ara AG, a family owned German shoe company.

The terms of the deal, which is expected to close in the first half of 2024, were not disclosed.

Lloyd Shoes has manufactured upscale footwear in German-speaking and Scandinavian countries since 1888.

Zoom out: The deal marks the latest shoe acquisition for Arklyz, which in 2022 acquired Shoe City, a Baltimore-based sneaker and streetwear retailer. Arklyz also owns global licenses or wholesale distribution deals for brands such as Salomon, Head, Crocs, Nordica, Adidas and Hey Dude.

Can the Luxury Sneaker Make a Fashion Comeback?

Like many things in 2023, the luxury fashion sneaker market found itself in a period of evolution and uncertainty amid changing consumer spending and shifting trends.

Once an all-in for luxury brands — as major players like Louis Vuitton, Gucci, Prada, Versace and Balenciaga widely adopted the silhouette into their merchandise mix — the fashion sneaker began to lose its way over the past few years thanks to a variety of factors. From a newfound emphasis on athletic brand classics and an interest in other categories like outdoor, to a slew of newer athletic powerhouses Hoka and On, many luxury houses are now uncertain of how to move the fashion needle forward when it comes to sneakers.

Seasonal price increases, coupled with mounting inflation and a lack of newness in the category have led consumers to move on from the chunky “dad” shoes that many sneakerheads fawned over pre-pandemic. This seemingly overnight cooling off of the category has been going on for some time now. In fact, many experts believe sales in luxury sneakers may have hit its peak during the pandemic.

Yes, but: While the softness in luxury sneakers has been a big talking point, designer sales as of October 2023 are still about 60 percent above 2019 levels — compared to the rest of the sneaker market that is up 12 percent versus 2019. This means that consumers still want these products, they just want something different, whether that’s something more sustainably minded or a new aesthetic.

Read more about the state of luxury sneakers, here.

Need more shoe news?

• La Sportiva Opens Its First US Store in Colorado
• How Will Store of the Future Look? Execs from Jordan, Rothy’s + More Reveal Their Strategies
• Brooks Unveils the Hyperion Elite
• Saucony Launches Marathumb Challenge App to Encourage Less Screen Time

Got a tip? Send us a confidential note here.

Want more? Sign up here to receive FN's daily newsletter directly in your inbox.